Night three of Aus Open 2018 was a complicated one to say the least.
Third seed Grigor Dimitrov was faced with what appeared to be a straightforward match against young American Mackenzie McDonald, ranked 178 in the world and no perceived threat to the Bulgarian.
However things did not play out that way in the first set.
McDonald broke Dimitrov in the third game with Grigor double faulting and throwing in three errors.
The 22 year old consolidated the break and then handed Dimitrov a love game based on four errors.
Two forehand winners assisted Mackenzie to a 4-2 lead and he saved two break points in the eighth game for 5-3.
Dimitrov served two aces and hit a forehand winner to force the American to serve for an unlikely set win.
This he did 6-4.
Dimitrov fought back in set two, breaking in the sixth game, with McDonald double faulting on the final point.
He broke again to take the set, now varying his game and drawing more mistakes from his opponent.
With sets level at 4-6 6-2 Dimitrov was where he wanted to be and winning set three asserted his position, although McDonald wasn’t making it easy - he broke for 3-2.
Dimitrov broke back thanks greatly to a double fault and four errors from the US racquet.
A hold and another break and Dimitrov led 4-6 6-2 6-4.
An unbelievable collapse occurred in the fourth set where Dimitrov lost all six games in a flash, his game going nowhere.
However he regrouped in time and experience told when McDonald served at 6-7. A double and an unforced error lost him his serve and the match.
Dimitrov survived by the skin of his teeth 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6.
Dasha Gavrilova (23) burst out of the blocks against Elise Mertens to lead 5-0 and have set points, but she fell in a screaming heap, wasting several more set points and not winning any more games in the set.
Mertens won it 7-5 and proceeded to win the match 7-5 6-3.
Disappointing performance from Australia’s number two who really needs to be more mentally prepared for her matches.
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